Karen Holbrook takes the reins at Ohio State

Dr. Karen A. Holbrook, the 13th president of The Ohio State University whose appointment became official on Oct. 1, says she is committed to the university’s Academic Plan and looks forward to working with the entire campus to achieve academic excellence. More than 100 people came out to the steps of Bricker Hall to greet Holbrook on her first day. Speakers included Board of Trustees Chairman James Patterson and David Citino, professor of English, who wrote a poem to welcome the new president. Citino’s poem is online, along with video of Holbrook’s welcoming remarks. READ MORE >

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Convocation marks beginning of new school year

Incoming President Karen Holbrook and Interim President Edward Jennings welcomed one of the university’s best-prepared freshman classes at a traditional Convocation ceremony to kick off the start of autumn quarter classes. At Convocation, about 5,900 new freshman and first-quarter transfer students experienced their first academic procession, learned some of the university’s history and tradition, marched through Ohio Stadium with the band, and learned the words to Carmen Ohio. The Class of 2006 shares academic characteristics with last year’s freshman class, including an ACT average of 25.2. The national average is 20.8. Additionally, one-third of the new students this fall ranked in the top 10 percent of their graduating classes and another two-thirds ranked in the top 25 percent. READ MORE >

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U.S. News confirms we’re the best public in Ohio

Innovative programs that make the transition to college easier at Ohio State are among the nation's best, according to U.S. News and World Report rankings of America’s Best Colleges. Overall, the magazine continues to rank Ohio State among the nation’s top 25 public institutions, and the only public university in Ohio on that list. Miami University is in a two-way tie for 26 and Ohio University is in a five-way tie at 45. The publication lists two Ohio State initiatives, First Year Experience (FYE) and Living-Learning Programs, as stellar examples of programs that lead to student success. The FYE programs help students navigate the complexities of college life, academically and socially. The magazine rated Ohio State’s FYE program as seventh in the nation. Living-Learning Programs are residence hall programs that group students with common interests such as academic interest, cultural background, or lifestyle preferences together in a residence hall. Ohio State’s programs ranked 18th in the nation. READ MORE >

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Our students are learning outside the classroom

Columbus was made a cleaner, smarter, more beautiful city last month following Ohio State’s seventh annual Community Commitment day. Approximately 1,600 students — mostly freshmen — rolled up their sleeves and volunteered for Community Commitment, the nation’s largest single-day community service project. The volunteers traveled to 80 sites around Columbus to perform projects including landscaping, tutoring school-age children, cleaning and painting, general office work, and friendly visiting. The university does not require students to perform community service, but last year nearly half of Ohio State’s students volunteered in the community in some capacity. During the last six years, Community Commitment participants have volunteered nearly 20,000 hours of service. READ MORE >

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Remember Mirror Lake? It’s new and improved!

A five-month project designed at renovating and restoring one of Ohio State’s most recognized campus landmarks, Mirror Lake, was recently completed. According to the University Engineer’s Office, the wall surrounding the lake was cracked and badly deteriorating. The renovation project removed the old stacked limestone lake wall. The new lake wall is comprised of a barely visible concrete, covered with stone veneer. This month, new Buckeye trees will be planted at the west end of the lake. Read about the history of Mirror Lake online. READ MORE >

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OSU to help create artificial immune system

Creation of an artificial immune system that would allow researchers to study the impact of chemical and biological weapons on the human body may be possible in only a few years, according to a medical researcher at Ohio State who has been awarded a $3.7 million grant for the project. The Department of Defense is funding the research, with hope it will ultimately decrease the length of time it takes to produce targeted vaccines against emerging diseases. “Today, with the need to test potential vaccines in humans, it can take 10 to 15 years and tens of millions of dollars to develop a product for market,” said Larry Lasky, a Medical Center pathologist and principal investigator for the study. “An artificial immune system would reduce the need for human testing and vaccine production time to perhaps five years, or even less.” READ MORE >

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Time & Change: Med Center ready for construction

Visitors and patients at the Ohio State Medical Center campus will be dealing with construction and traffic changes during the next few years. The Medical Center is in the early stages of several years of change and disruption, with multiple construction projects under way. Traffic and parking in the area also will be impacted by construction of new state Route 315 ramps providing direct access between the Medical Center and the freeway. Up-to-date information for those visiting the Medical Center and surrounding area is available online.
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Library exhibit recalls history of Ohio Stadium

The history of Ohio Stadium is on display through Dec. 13 at the Thompson (Main) Library. The University Archives’ exhibit — A Walk in Our ’Shoe: The History of Ohio Stadium — is free and open to the public during the library’s regular business hours. Among the artifacts are a football uniform from 1938, Woody Hayes’ marching band beret, dedication day newspaper from 1922, Heisman Trophy winner coins, and Jesse Owens’ broad jump gold medal from the 1935 Amateur Athletic Union meet.

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Moritz College of law gets scholarship support

A $50,000 pledge from the Honorable Robert M. Duncan will establish a scholarship to help an outstanding first-year student entering the Michael E. Moritz College of Law each year. The Honorable Robert M. Duncan Scholarship will help a student who will contribute to the intellectual and social diversity of the entering class. Duncan, who earned a bachelor’s degree and his juris doctor from Ohio State, is the Moritz College of Law’s Distinguished Jurist in Residence and is a member of the university’s Board of Trustees. Duncan, who has had a long and distinguished legal career, was elected to the Supreme Court of Ohio in 1968 and served there until he was appointed judge and, later, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Military Appeals. In 1974, former President Richard Nixon appointed Duncan to the federal bench to serve the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

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